One of the most common questions we hear at Affordable Computers & Repair is this: “How long will a refurbished laptop last?” It’s a good question and we certainly understand why people would want to know. After all, most have heard that “refurbished” and “used” are the same thing and so they naturally are afraid our products will fail as rapidly as most used laptops do. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Why Refurbished Cheap Laptops Will Last and Last

We hear from our customers in Colorado all the time who are afraid refurbished cheap laptops are going to fail in short order like a lot of used laptops do. The fact is, the life expectancy of a refurbished computer is much longer than that of the average used computer you purchase from a private seller. Here’s why:

• Where they come from - Although most people equate refurbished with used the fact is that, even though some refurbished machines have had previous owners, others have never even left the box. Some were just booted up one time by a buyer who realized it wasn’t the machine they wanted. They then returned the computer for a different one. Still others were owned by executives or salespeople who only used them for a couple of years to send emails and make presentations.
  

  In most cases the refurbished laptops and PCs we sell have been well cared for before they ever found their way to us for refurbishment. This is different than a laptop that belonged to someone who carried it around in their backpack in the rain, who rarely did any maintenance on it and who may have used it to surf risky websites.

• The life expectancy of the average new laptop - The average laptop can be expected to last 4-6 years before it either breaks down from poor maintenance or it becomes obsolete. If you buy a laptop from a private individual after say 2 or 3 years you might get a couple of more years out of it, or it might break down on the way home after buying it. A 2 or 3 year old laptop that has been refurbished by Affordable Computers & Repair however, is not like a used laptop you’re buying from a stranger.
  

  Our refurbished laptops have had their hard drive wiped clean and all their hardware components thoroughly checked out. Any parts that were in questionable shape have been replaced and in many cases a new copy of the operating system has been installed. As such, you can be sure it’s not going to act like a standard 2 or 3 year old laptop, nor will it be facing the end any time soon.

• The similarities between refurbished and new - Because of where they come from, and the lengths we go to to prepare these machines for resale, our refurbished laptops actually have far more in common with a brand new machines than with the used laptops you’ll see people trying to unload on craigslist. Many of the laptops we refurbish were previously owned by companies that issued them to their staff. These are known as “fleet” laptops and they typically endure far less use and abuse than laptops owned by private individuals.
  

  Once refurbished by us they are returned to virtually pristine condition and have more in common with new laptops than with any used machine. They are, by any reasonable definition, “like new”. Not like a 2 or 3 year old machine. You’ll never have to worry about hidden viruses or malware, fragmented discs working at half speed or malfunctioning fans that lead to overheating.

• The warranty - What are the odds that the person you meet for the first time at the coffee shop in Wheat Ridge who wants to sell you a 3 year old laptop (that he doesn’t have a receipt for) is going to provide you with a warranty for that laptop? If you said “zero”, congratulations. You’re right. But why is that? Well, first of all the laptop may not be theirs at all. The unfortunate fact is that every year some 2 million laptops are stolen and most of those wind up being sold as “used” by the thieves shortly after being stolen.
  

  Another reason you won’t get a warranty is because a 3 year old used laptop can’t be expected to last very long unless it’s been meticulously cared for. When you purchase a refurbished laptop from Affordable Computers & Repair, however, you will get anywhere from a 1 month to a 1 year warranty, depending on the machine you purchase. What good is a 1 month warranty? Plenty of good actually. Most serious computer problems are related to hardware defects and these problems become apparent in the first weeks after purchase. It’s the same with refurbished computers. If you’re going to see a problem it will likely be in the first few days after you purchase it. In which case simply return it to us and we’ll fix it free of charge.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to cheap laptops there are used machines that may not survive until you get home with them and then there are refurbished laptops from Affordable Computers & Repair in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Our laptops are lean and clean and ready to serve you, your company or your family for years to come. Give us a call at (720) 643-5937 to learn more.